551859
research-article2014
SJP0010.1177/1403494814551859Rehabilitation of individuals on long-term sick leave due to sustained stress-related symptomsMV Willert et al.
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 2014; 42: 719–727
Original Article
Rehabilitation of individuals on long-term sick leave due to sustained stress-related symptoms: A comparative follow-up study
Morten Vejs Willert1, Joanna Wieclaw2 & Ane Marie Thulstrup1 1Danish
Ramazzini Centre, Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Region Midt, Denmark, and previously at the Centre for Social Medicine and Rehabilitation, Region Midt, Denmark
2ArbejdsmiljøCentret,
Abstract Aims:Nature-assisted therapy for mental health problems receives increased attention. However, quantitative evaluations are rare. This study evaluates the effects of an all-outdoors vocational rehabilitation program for individuals on long-term sick leave due to sustained stress-related symptoms. Methods: In a comparative pre–post intervention design the intervention group contained 48 participants from Mariendal Gardens (MG), while 45 participants at Stress- & Jobmanagement (SJ) formed the comparison group. At MG all activities took place outdoors, while activities at SJ were mainly indoors. Questionnaires were completed at baseline, 3- and 6-month follow-up. Outcomes included Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and measures of sleep, mindfulness, self-efficacy, daily functioning, and work ability. Data were analyzed using mixed model repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: At baseline the MG-group PSS-10 mean score was 25.15 points (SD=7.20), while the SJ-group mean score was 23.91 (SD=7.48). At 3-months the MG within-group score dropped 4.61 [2.71; 6.52] points (p
research-article2014
SJP0010.1177/1403494814551859Rehabilitation of individuals on long-term sick leave due to sustained stress-related symptomsMV Willert et al.
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 2014; 42: 719–727
Original Article
Rehabilitation of individuals on long-term sick leave due to sustained stress-related symptoms: A comparative follow-up study
Morten Vejs Willert1, Joanna Wieclaw2 & Ane Marie Thulstrup1 1Danish
Ramazzini Centre, Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Region Midt, Denmark, and previously at the Centre for Social Medicine and Rehabilitation, Region Midt, Denmark
2ArbejdsmiljøCentret,
Abstract Aims:Nature-assisted therapy for mental health problems receives increased attention. However, quantitative evaluations are rare. This study evaluates the effects of an all-outdoors vocational rehabilitation program for individuals on long-term sick leave due to sustained stress-related symptoms. Methods: In a comparative pre–post intervention design the intervention group contained 48 participants from Mariendal Gardens (MG), while 45 participants at Stress- & Jobmanagement (SJ) formed the comparison group. At MG all activities took place outdoors, while activities at SJ were mainly indoors. Questionnaires were completed at baseline, 3- and 6-month follow-up. Outcomes included Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and measures of sleep, mindfulness, self-efficacy, daily functioning, and work ability. Data were analyzed using mixed model repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: At baseline the MG-group PSS-10 mean score was 25.15 points (SD=7.20), while the SJ-group mean score was 23.91 (SD=7.48). At 3-months the MG within-group score dropped 4.61 [2.71; 6.52] points (p
